Bathrobe having integrated fastener adjustable waistband

ABSTRACT

A bathrobe construction including a continuous main body having a left-side front flap, a right-side front flap, a back, a right sleeve, a left sleeve and optionally a hood. A gathered waistband extends continuously across the left-side front flap, the back, and the right-side front flap. A tab affixed to one of the right-side front flap and the left-side front flap includes a hook fastener attachable to a first non-loop fastener positioned on an inside of the waistband when the bathrobe is in an open condition. A second non-loop fastener positioned on an outside of the waistband of the other of the right-side front flap and the left-side front flap to which the tab is not affixed is used to removably attach the tab to hold the bathrobe in a closed condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bathrobes are commonly known loose fitting garments worn by both men and women of all ages. Bathrobe materials are typically chosen based on intended use. For example, bathrobes intended to be worn over clothing may be constructed primarily from hydrophobic fabrics such as silk, nylon, wool and certain cottons such as flannel, while bathrobes intended to be worn after bathing or swimming may be constructed primarily from hydrophilic fabrics such as microfiber and terrycloth.

Most conventional bathrobe constructions open along the front and utilize a belt for maintaining the bathrobe in a closed condition. Belted bathrobes may be provided with or without belt loops. In either configuration, belts easily become separated from the bathrobe, particularly during laundering, and a lost belt typically makes the bathrobe unusable for its intended purpose. Further, to accommodate various waist sizes, most belts have an undesirably long length that requires tying and managing. Tied belts tend to loosen during wearing, while double knotted belts are difficult to untie. Belts also require two hands for tying and thus are undesirable for wearers with limited abilities. In addition, untied belts can be a tripping hazard and are particularly dangerous in wet environments such as in bathrooms and near pools.

Attempts have been made to replace belts with other fasteners. For example, some bathrobes button down the front. Button fasteners also require two hands to close, and detached buttons are a choking hazard for young children. Zippers also require two hands to close, tend to be uncomfortable against the skin, and are a poor fastener choice directly against the skin for obvious reasons. In addition, different materials tend to shrink at different rates over time, making zippers difficult to close and producing an undesirable waviness along the front of the robe. While other fastener constructions may be a suitable replacement for a belt, conventional fastener materials tend to be stiff, difficult to sew, are rough against the skin, and tend to catch on other items, particularly when laundering.

Accordingly, what is needed is a bathrobe including an improved fastener for maintaining the bathrobe in a closed condition, and a fastener that allows closing and opening the robe with one hand, among other features and advantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a bathrobe construction including a continuous main body having a left-side front flap, a right-side front flap, a back, a right sleeve, and a left sleeve. A gathered waistband positioned on the main body extends continuously across the left-side front flap, the back, and the right-side front flap. The gathered waistband includes an elastic component. A tab is affixed to the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap proximate the waistband and the tab includes a hook fastener. A first loop fastener is positioned on an inside of the waistband of the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is affixed, and the first loop fastener is positioned proximate the tab such that the tab is removably attachable to the first loop fastener when the bathrobe is in an open condition. A second loop fastener provided as a strip is positioned extending along an outside of the waistband of the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is not affixed, and the tab is removably attachable to the second loop fastener along a length of the second to maintain the bathrobe in a closed condition.

In some embodiments, the closed condition corresponds to a condition in which the right-side front flap is secured overlapping the left-side front flap or vice versa.

In some embodiments, the main body further includes a hood.

In some embodiments, each of the right sleeve and the left sleeve terminates at a distal end in a cuff.

In some embodiments, a majority of the main body includes terry cotton material, the gathered waistband includes muslin, and the cuff of each of the right sleeve and the left sleeve includes muslin.

In some embodiments, the gathered waistband includes muslin on both an inside of the waistband and on an outside of the waistband.

In some embodiments, a perimeter and a back of the tab is covered with fabric and a front of the tab including hooks is uncovered.

In some embodiments, fabric attached to the tab on a side of the tab closest the right-side front flap or left-side front flap to which the tab is affixed is sewn to the right-side front flap or left-side, front flap to which the tab is affixed.

In some embodiments, the bathrobe construction further includes fabric piping along edges of one or more of the right-side front flap, the left-side front flap, the back, the hood, and ends of the right and left sleeves.

In another aspect, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a bathrobe construction including a main body having a left-side front flap, a right-side front flap, a back, a right sleeve, and a left sleeve. An elastic waistband positioned on the main body extends across portions of the left-side front flap, the back, and the right-side front flap. A tab affixed to the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap near the waistband includes hooks fasteners. A loop fastener is positioned on an inside of the waistband on the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is affixed such that the tab is removably attachable to the loop fastener when the bathrobe is in an open condition. An elongate loop strip is positioned on an outside of the waistband on the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is not affixed and the tab is removably attachable to the loop fastener strip to maintain the bathrobe in an adjusted closed condition.

In a further aspect, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a bathrobe including a continuous main body having a left-side front flap, a right-side front flap, a back, a right sleeve, a left sleeve, and a hood. A gathered waistband extends continuously across the left-side front flap, the back, and the right-side front flap. A tab is affixed to one of the right-side front flap and the left-side front flap and one face of the tab includes hooks removably attachable to a first loop fastener positioned on an inside of the waistband adjacent the tab when the bathrobe is in an open condition. A second loop fastener is positioned on an outside of the waistband of the other of the right-side front flap and the left-side front flap to which the tab is not affixed, and the tab is attachable to the second loop fastener to hold the bathrobe in an adjusted closed condition.

Embodiments of the inventive concepts can include one or more or any combination of the above aspects, features and configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the included drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, and in which some features may be exaggerated and some features may be omitted or may be represented schematically in the interest of clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings may represent and refer to the same or similar element, feature, or function. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a bathrobe, according to the present disclosure, shown in a closed condition;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the bathrobe of FIG. 1, shown in an open condition;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the bathrobe of FIG. 1, shown in an open condition;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the waistband portion of the bathrobe shown in a closed condition;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a portion of the waistband portion of the bathrobe shown in a closed condition;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a portion of the side of the bathrobe including the attached fastener;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a pocket opening positioned on the front of the bathrobe;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the pocket positioned inside the front of the bathrobe;

FIG. 9 is a front view of a bathrobe, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, shown in a closed condition;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the bathrobe of FIG. 9 shown in an open condition;

FIG. 11 is a partially deconstructed view of the tab detailing tab attachment;

FIG. 12 is an open condition view of the robe of FIG. 9 further including a single waist extender;

FIG. 13 is an open condition view of the robe of FIG. 9 further including a double waist extender;

FIG. 14 is a detailed view of the single waist extender attachment of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a detailed view of the double waist extender attachment of FIG. 13; and

FIG. 16 is a detailed view of casing concealment of a waist extender and attachment point thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended to be a description of various, illustrative embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Specific features and functionalities are described in connection with each illustrative embodiment; however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without each of those specific features and functionalities. The aspects, features and functions described below in connection with one embodiment are intended to be applicable to the other embodiments described below except where expressly stated or where an aspect, feature or function is incompatible with an embodiment.

Referring to the drawing figures, bathrobe constructions according to the present disclosure are shown generally at reference numeral 20. A main body 22 of the bathrobe construction 20 general includes a left-side front flap 24, a right-side front flap 26, a back 28, a left sleeve 30, and a right sleeve 32. The bathrobe construction 20 optionally includes a hood 34. In embodiments without a hood, the bathrobe construction 20 may include a collar or may be collarless. Portions of the left-side front flap 24, right-side front flap 26, back 28, left sleeve 30, right sleeve 32, and optional hood 34 may be continuous with other portions or may be sewn to other portions. For example, the left-side front flap 24 may be continuous with a portion of the left sleeve 30, such as the front half of the left sleeve, while the right-side front flap 26 may be continuous with a portion of the right sleeve 32, such as the front half of the right sleeve. The back 28 may be continuous with portions of both the left and right sleeves 30, 32, such as the back half of each of the left and right sleeves. Front and back halves of each of the left and right sleeves 30, 32 may be sewn together to form a complete sleeve. Portions of the hood may or may not be continuous with portions of the left-side front flap 24, right-side front flap 26, and back 28. Other constructions are envisioned.

FIG. 1 shows a first bathrobe construction 20 in a closed condition in which the right-side front flap 26 is secured overlapping a portion of the left-side front flap 24. In an alternative closed condition, the left-side front flap 24 may be secured overlapping a portion of the right-side front flap 26. A tab 36 affixed, sewn or otherwise attached to the left-side front flap 24 or the right-side front flap 26 operates to maintain the closed condition and determines which flap overlaps the other. The tab 36 includes the hook component of a hook-and-loop fastener system and is removably attachable to a separate loop component of the fastener system, discussed in detail below. The tab 36 and corresponding loop component provide the bathrobe construction 20 with an adjustable waistband, wherein opening and closing the bathrobe can be done with one hand.

FIG. 2 shows the bathrobe construction 20 in an open condition in which the left-and right-side front flaps 24, 26 are not secured together and are not overlapping. As shown, the tab 36 is affixed to the right-side front flap 26. The bathrobe construction 20 further includes a gathered waistband 38 that extends continuously across the left-side front flap 24, the right-side front flap 26, and the back 28. The gathered waistband 38 includes an integrated elastic component 40, such as an elastic band or elasticized fabric, and the gathering provides the stretch needed to accommodate larger waist sizes.

FIG. 3 shows the back 28 of the main body 22 and best illustrates the fabric make-up of the bathrobe construction 20. With additional reference to FIG. 1, most of the main body 22 includes hydrophilic fabric for water absorption, suitable examples of which include, but are not limited to, microfiber, terrycloth, and other cotton fabrics. Portions of the waistband 38, the hood 34, and cuffs 42 at a distal end of each of the left and right sleeves 30, 32 include hydrophilic fabric such as muslin or other cotton fabric. The muslin may be patterned to ornament the bathrobe construction 20, and muslin is a thinner fabric as compared to terrycloth and thus allows a thinner and more comfortable waistband as compared to terrycloth. The muslin provided at the cuffs be positioned over underlying terrycloth to provide a thicker cuff. In some embodiments, the hood is lined on an exterior or an interior thereof with muslin fabric for water absorption and drying performance.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show detailed views of the waistband 38, and particularly the hook-and-loop fastener system. The tab 36 is affixed to the left-side front flap 24 or the right-side front flap 26 proximate the lateral extent of the waistband and extends laterally away from the attached flap. The tab 36 is positioned to removably attach to a corresponding elongate strip of loop material 44 positioned on the flap opposite the tab. The elongate strip of loop material 44 extends longitudinally along the waistband and the respective flap thereby providing choice in attachment position and thus waistband adjustability. In use, the flaps are overlapped and the tab 36 grabbed with one hand, pulled to an attachment position, and secured to the underlying loop strip. While hook-and-loop fasteners are well known, preferable types for use in the present invention include textile products having a soft backing for comfort and high shear strength to prevent unintentional detachment.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing the tab 36 construction and a second loop component 46. The second loop component 46 is affixed to the inside of the flap to which the tab 36 is affixed proximate the tab. The second loop component 46 is positioned with respect to the tab 36 such that, when the bathrobe is in an open condition, the tab is removably attachable to the second loop component 46 to “close” the tab to prevent unintentional attachment to another article during wearing, laundering, etc. The hooked-face of the tab 36 and the loop face of the second loop component 46 thus have a substantially corresponding size where no adjustability is needed, whereas the elongate loop strip about the waist has a longer length than the tab to allow adjustability is the attachment position about the strip. The tab 36 as shown is covered with fabric 54 along the sides and back leaving the hooked face uncovered, and the fabric 54 providing surface area for attaching the tab to the main body. Sides and corners of hook fasteners tend to be rough, and thus sewing the fabric covering to the respective flap provides better attachment and durability, among other advantages.

In some embodiments, the tab 36 may include a hook faced portion having a fabric border. The fabric border may substantially surround and cover the edges on all four sides and optionally the back of the hook fastener. The fabric border may overlap the edges and be straight stitch sewn around the perimeter to secure the front and back portions together with the hook fastener secured therebetween. The portion of the fabric border directly adjacent the flap, utilized to attach the tab to the robe flap, requires a reinforced seam to ensure secure attachment and withstand the stresses and forces applied thereto from repeated pulling. Threads used to stitch the fabric border to the hook fastener and the fabric border to the bathrobe flap may be selected from high tensile strength materials (e.g. polyester and nylon). Suitable stitch patterns for securing the tab to the flap may include, but are not limited to, zigzag stitches allowing a degree of stretch without tearing, multiple passes of straight stitches, multithread chain stitches, etc.

FIG. 7 shows a non-limiting example of a front pocket 48 positioned at the interface of the left-side front flap 24 and the back 28. Pockets may be provided at one or more of the left and right sides of the bathrobe construction. FIG. 8 shows the inside of the flap and the pocket construction made from a mesh fabric.

Optional features may include fabric piping 50 around the exposed edges of one or more of the left-side front flap 24, right-side front flap 26, hood 34 and cuffs 42 (as best shown in FIG. 2), and a fabric loop 52 for hanging the robe (as best shown in FIG. 3).

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a second bathrobe construction generally at reference numeral 20. Like the first bathrobe construction, the second bathrobe construction generally includes a main body 22 having a left-side front flap 24, a right-side front flap 26, a back 28, a left sleeve 30, and a right sleeve 32. The bathrobe construction may include a collar 56, may be collarless, or may include a hood. Portions of the left-side front flap 24, right-side front flap 26, back 28, left sleeve 30, and right sleeve 32 may be continuous with other portions or may be sewn to other portions. The tab 36 serves to hold the front flaps closed and the bathrobe in a closed condition. The bathrobe may include one or more front pockets 48. The bathrobe construction may lack a gathered waistband, or as best shown in FIG. 10, may include a predetermined length of gathering elastic along the back of the main body about the waistband, generally illustrated at reference numeral 58.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary tab construction in a partially deconstructed state. As discussed above, the tab 36 includes a hook faced portion 60 frame and backed with fabric 54. The fabric may be utilized to attach the tab assembly to the flap. For example, the fabric portion closest the flap may be sewn lengthwise to the flap with one or more of multiple rows of stitches, zig-zag stitches, straight stitches and tacking, small stitches, and overlock stitches, shown generally at reference numeral 62. The tab assembly may be further secured to the robe with the fabric piping 50 applied over the sewn tab and stitched along the flap.

The second bathrobe construction, as well as the first bathrobe construction, may optionally include at least one waistband extender for waistband adjustment. For example, large waists and maternity applications may require an expanded waistband, whereas small waists and pre- and post-maternity applications may not. FIG. 12 shows a single waistband extender 64, while FIG. 13 shows two waistband extenders 64. Waistband extenders may include, but are not limited to, button-hole elastic having an attached end 68 and a free end 70 with multiple button-hole positions 72 therebetween for choice in adjustment. The waistband extenders(s) 64 may be positioned beneath casing 66 sewn to the inside (or outside) of the robe such that as the waistband expands the extender is concealed beneath the casing.

Referring to FIG. 14, the free end 70 of the extender 64 is pulled from within the casing 66 and secured, at a selected button-hole position 72, to a button 74 sewn to the robe. Button-hole locations nearer the free end correspond to larger waist sizes, while button-hole locations nearer the attached end correspond to smaller waist sizes. FIG. 15 shows two waistband extenders 64 providing additional adjustability. FIG. 16 shows the extender concealed within the casing 66.

While the foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example only, it is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the appended claims. 

1. A bathrobe, comprising: a main body including a left-side front flap, a right-side front flap, a back, a right sleeve, and a left sleeve; a gathered waistband positioned on the main body extending continuously across the left-side front flap, the back, and the right-side front flap, the gathered waistband including an elastic component; a tab affixed to the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap proximate the waistband, the tab including a hook fastener; a first loop fastener positioned on an inside of the waistband of the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is affixed, the first loop fastener positioned proximate the tab, the tab in a first condition extending laterally away from the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is affixed, and the tab in a second condition folded over the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is affixed such that the tab is removably attachable to the first loop fastener when the bathrobe is in an open condition; and a second loop fastener positioned on an outside of the waistband of the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is not affixed, the tab removably attachable to the second loop fastener to maintain the bathrobe in a closed condition, the second loop fastener comprising an elongate strip extending from a lateral extent of the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap and along an exterior of the gathered waistband; wherein the tab comprises a fabric backing and a fabric border covering all four sides of the tab; and wherein the fabric backing extends laterally from the tab and is sewn to the main body to affix the tab to the main body.
 2. The bathrobe according to claim 1, wherein the closed condition corresponds to a condition in which the right-side front flap is secured overlapping the left-side from flap or vice versa.
 3. The bathrobe according to claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a hood lined on an exterior or an interior thereof with muslin fabric.
 4. The bathrobe according to claim 1, wherein each of the right sleeve and the left sleeve terminates at a distal end in a cuff.
 5. The bathrobe according to claim 4, wherein a majority of the main body comprises terry cotton material, the gathered waistband comprises muslin, and the cuff of each of the right sleeve and the left sleeve comprises muslin.
 6. The bathrobe according to claim 1, further comprising at least one waistband extender positioned within a casing, the at least one waistband extender including button-hole elastic having a free end, an attached end, and multiple button-hole positions therebetween for removably attaching to a button to adjust a waist size.
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. The bathrobe according to claim 2, further comprising fabric piping along edges of one or more of the right-side front flap, the left-side front flap, the back, the hood, or ends of the right and left sleeves.
 10. A bathrobe, comprising: a main body including a left-side front flap, a right-side front flap, a back, a right sleeve, and a left sleeve; an elastic waistband positioned on the main body extending across portions of the left-side front flap, the back, and the right-side front flap; a tab sewn to the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap at a lateral extent of the waistband, the tab including a hook-faced fastener component, and the tab sewn to the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap utilizing at least two rows of stitches; a loop fastener, substantially corresponding in size with the tab, positioned on an inside of the waistband on the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is sewn, the tab in a first condition extending laterally away from the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is sewn, and the tab in a second condition folded over the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is sewn such that the tab is removably attachable to the loop fastener when the bathrobe is in an open condition; and an elongate loop fastener strip sewn along an outside of the waistband on the right-side front flap or the left-side front flap to which the tab is not sewn, the tab removably attachable to the elongate loop fastener strip to maintain the bathrobe in an adjusted dosed condition; wherein the tab comprises a fabric backing and a fabric border covering all four sides of the tab; and wherein the fabric backing extends laterally away from the tab and is sewn to the main body to affix the tab to the main body.
 11. The bathrobe according to claim 10, wherein the adjusted closed condition corresponds to a condition in which the right-side front flap is secured overlapping the left-side front flap or vice versa.
 12. The bathrobe according to claim 10, further comprising at least one waistband extender positioned within a casing, the at least one waistband extender including button-hole elastic having a free end, an attached end, and multiple button-hole positions therebetween for removably attaching to a button to adjust a waist size.
 13. The bathrobe according to claim 10, wherein each of the right sleeve and the left sleeve terminates at a distal end in a cuff.
 14. The bathrobe according to claim 13, wherein a majority of the main body comprises terry cotton material, the waistband comprises muslin, and the cuff of each of the right sleeve and the left sleeve comprises muslin.
 15. The bathrobe according to claim 10, wherein the waistband comprises muslin on an inside of the waistband and on an outside of the waistband. 16-17. (canceled)
 18. The bathrobe according to claim 11, further comprising fabric piping along edges of one or more of the right-side front flap, the left-side front flap, the back, the hood, or ends of the right and left sleeves. 19-20. (canceled) 